Genes and celiac disease

Celiac disease is a chronic infl ammatory disease of the small intestine triggered by gluten intake, which occurs in genetically susceptible
individuals. The purpose of this paper is to present recent fi ndings in the genetics of celiac disease. Genetic background of celiac
disease related to human leukocyte antigen locus (HLA) as a dominant genetic element has been well described. However, the existence
of a large number of non-HLA celiac disease genes, only partly shared by each individual patient, suggests genetic heterogeneity
of the disease. In addition, it has been observed that many of these risk loci in celiac disease are common with the loci for other
autoimmune diseases. A signifi cant contribution to our knowledge has been provided by recent genome-wide association studies,
but great part of the still unknown heritability in celiac disease is yet to be explored in the future.

The whole article is viewable only to subscribers! If you are a subscriber please login.

About us

Journal PAEDIATRIA CROATICA is the official journal of the Croatian Pediatric Society and Croatian Society of School and University Medicine. The editor is Children's Hospital Zagreb. It is published four times per year by Children's University Hospital Zagreb, Klaićeva 16, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.Practicing pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists, neonatologists, family physicians, and other health care professionals that have children in their care.